Abstract
With democratic and market-oriented systems taking shape in what used to be the German Democratic Republic (GDR), it has be come common for analysts to stress the burgeoning unity and national identity of Germany. Such arguments tend to underestimate the im portance of contrasting cultural, traditional, and contemporary exper iences of the two Germanies in the post-war period. These often aggressively competing legacies manifest themselves in various ways in the economic, political, and religious spheres. Some people of the for mer East Germany resent what has been perpetrated on them in the name of democracy, liberal-market, and new ideologies; others are still unable to adjust to the drastic changes following unification. Interviews with pastors, university professors and students, party officials, city administrators, and environmentalists in the former East Germany point to the fact that the emerging dominance of West Ger man institutions, ideas, and resources has fostered resentment among East Germans. Eastern religious leaders have become disenchanted with Western materialism and insensitivity to the former Eastern cul
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
